Gerald "Jerry" K. Gardner

Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at 11:00 AM at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home 5701 US Hwy. 277 S. Interment will follow at Texas State Veterans Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Monday evening from 6-8:00 PM also at the funeral home.

Jerry was born on November 13, 1950, in Bad Axe, Michigan to the late Kenneth Lee Gardner and Mary Luella (Matthews) Gardner. He joined the United States Air Force and served in Vietnam. He naturally excelled in mechanics and worked on the B-1 bombers. Once in civilian life he continued to be a mechanic, working for many years at SEARS. While stationed at Dyess Air Force Base, he met Gloria Gonzales on a blind date, and after three months they got married on July 21, 1972. They enjoyed many years together. Once they were married, he became an honorary member of the large Gonzales family. He loved to go fishing. He was a Rock for his daughters and granddaughter. He was always willing to lend a helping hand working on someone’s car or house. He shared many of his construction skills with his Gonzales nephews. He will be missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents; beloved wife, Gloria Gardner; siblings, Mary and Don Gardner.

He is survived by his daughters, Brenda Renee Gardner (Joseph O’Keeffe), and Laura Jean Gardner (Donald Peterson); one granddaughter, Olivia Erin O’Keeffe; sister, Wanda Bouverette; nephews, Aaron, Adam and Andrew niece, Angela; numerous Gonzales sister and brothers-in-law as well as nieces and nephews.